home wearing his normally unkempt hair in a thickly greased style. Sis had picked out Tish’s outfit that morning. Mrs. Hunt is dressed elaborately, with a veiled hat that Tish finds unsettling.

Having only ever been to a Baptist church occasionally, Tish is unprepared for both the Sanctified building and its congregation’s worship practices. Formerly a post office, the church has low ceilings and a suffocating atmosphere. Mrs. Hunt parades her family down the center aisle that draws the eyes of other congregants. The minister is a charismatic man, whom Tish remembers was arrested many years later. When the service commences, Tish is struck by the dramatic shows of praise from Mrs. Hunt and another older woman, who is just as dressed up as Fonny’s mother. Tish feels disturbed and uncomfortable during the rest of the service.

Tish then discusses her own mother, Sharon, who once aspired to be a singer. Although Sharon is considered plain-looking and a bit odd, Tish adores her mother, admiring her strength and kindness. She relates the story of her parents’ unconventional meeting at a bus station just after Sharon had given up her singing dream. Joseph (“Joe”) Rivers was working at the station as a porter. Upon seeing Sharon, he immediately quit his job and accompanied Sharon to the city, where the two eventually married.

Finally, Tish arrives at home, shortly followed by her mother. Sharon asks Tish about Fonny, and engages in other small talk. Tish clumsily attempts to tell her mother about the pregnancy, but Sharon seemingly already knows. Tish says she is three months into the pregnancy, and that Fonny is glad. Sharon reiterates that Tish has always been a good daughter. Despite this, Tish is overwhelmed and tearful, and Sharon instructs her to lie down until her father and sister come home.

Joe, who is a dockworker, comes home and asks about Fonny. Sharon explains that he is fine and that Tish has plans to visit the lawyer the following Monday. Tish interrupts these events to explain what Fonny does for a living. Unsatisfied with the vocational carpentry program in which he had been enrolled, Fonny decided to become a sculptor. Fonny stole the tools and a supply of wood from the school before renting a place downtown as a studio. Tish first realized that Fonny loved her when she saw him sculpting. According to Tish, sculpting gives Fonny a fulfillment he never found at home, especially given his mother’s lack of affection for him. Mrs. Hunt prefers Fonny’s two sisters, who are pretty yet believe they are better than everyone else in the neighborhood.

The Rivers family sits down for dinner, after which Sharon retrieves a bottle of aged brandy she has had since her singing days. Sharon tells Joe to pour everyone a glass, because they are celebrating new life. Sharon announces that Tish is pregnant with Fonny’s child. Although Tish is nervous about how her father will react, her fears are quickly quashed as Joe reassures Tish that she is a good girl. Even so, Joe asks if Tish wants to keep the baby, only because she is so young. After Tish replies that she and Fonny both want the child, Joe says that he hopes it is a boy and has Tish sit in his lap.

Joe asks Tish if he can be the one to tell Frank, and Tish agrees. Before he can telephone Frank, Sharon suggests that Joe invite the entire Hunt family to visit that evening, so that everyone can learn of Tish’s pregnancy. Tish agrees with Sharon that this is the best thing to do. Joe calls the Hunts, urging Frank to bring his wife and daughters along. When he finishes the call, Joe says that the women must get dressed before they can come to the Rivers house. Joe jokingly warns Ernestine and Tish to be nice when the Hunts arrive.